WESTCHESTER, N.Y. - Republican officials in Westchester reacted warmly to Mitt Romney's pick of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate, which was announced Saturday morning in Norfolk, Va.

Former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer praised the decision announced Saturday morning calling it an "excellent and exciting choice." "I think he's showing a lot of courage and leadership with his selection of Ryan," said Spencer, "I hope the American people get beyond the rhetoric of commercials and their childishness and focus on important issues such as our economy." Spencer went on to add, " Ryan has gone head-to-head against President Obama on the budget. He's no shrinking violet on the issue of real fiscal reform."

State Sen. Greg Ball (R-C, Patterson), who is a Romney delegate for the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., later this month commented, "The selection of Ryan is certainly a bold move that will allow Romney to set forth a clear choice for America in the general election in November. It showcases them as a no 'BS' team to get this country back on track again." Ball, whose district includes parts of Westchester, said "Romney will focus like a laser on the economy and jobs and the failure of this administration on these issues."

Republican analyst for Fox News and national political correspondent for Talk Radio News Service, Tony Sayegh of Eastchester, said Ryan is "Not only the perfect pick for Romney, but exactly the bold type of leader we need." Sayegh said, "The words associated with Ryan are optimistic, innovative, bold and solution-focused," adding "Ryan's proven ability to reach across the political aisle in his home state of Wisconsin will bring Democrats and undecideds to select Romney."

George Oros, chief of staff for Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino called Ryan "A great choice due to the difficult economy that the Obama White house has placed our country in. Ryan has a terrific understanding of the federal budget and the workings of Congress."

In my view, Governor Romney is a very weak candidate that the Tea Party hopes to control. The Tea Party's influence can be seen in the selection of Representative Ryan as Mr. Romney's running mate. It is a chilling choice, considering Representative Ryans dystopian view of America, which is a return to privileges for the wealthy at the expense of all other Americans and a rolling back of all that has been hard-won over the last century. Let's hope that Americans can see clearly what this Republican ticket stands for, and that it does not stand for them.

I like him, he's just a bit less baffoonish than Biden and about 20 times the intelligence- The dems will ruthlessly attack him, his family and his budget plan- but we know they certainly can't run on their own record of disaster. November can't come soon enough for me.